The Government launched a public consultation today (December 1) on the proposed updates to Schedules 1 and 2 to the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424) to implement up-to-date safety standards promulgated by the relevant standards institutions for toys and children's products listed in Schedule 2 to the Ordinance (Schedule 2 products).
      
     The Ordinance stipulates that a person must not manufacture, import or supply a toy or a Schedule 2 product unless it complies with all the applicable requirements contained in any one of the safety standards (international standards or standards adopted by major economies) specified in Schedule 1 (applicable to toys) or Schedule 2 (applicable to Schedule 2 products) to the Ordinance. The Government keeps in view any changes to the standards so as to apply up-to-date and operative versions of the standards to products supplied in Hong Kong.  
      
     As the safety standards specified for toys and for six classes of Schedule 2 products, namely (i) baby walking frames, (ii) bottle teats, (iii) bunk beds for domestic use, (iv) children's high chairs and multi-purpose high chairs for domestic use, (v) children's paints, and (vi) children's safety harnesses have been updated, the Government proposes to adopt the up-to-date versions of those safety standards under the Ordinance. Details of the proposals are available on the website of the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at www.cedb.gov.hk/citb.
      
     Members of the public are welcome to send their views on the proposals in writing to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau at 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, or by fax to 2869 4420, or by email to tcpso_standards_updates@cedb.gov.hk, on or before December 31, 2021.     

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) mounted a wild pig capture operation at Pak Fuk Road, North Point, today (November 30) with a view to reducing the number of wild pigs there and safeguarding public safety.

     An AFCD spokesman said that the department started the wild pig capture operation at Pak Fuk Road at 6.30pm this evening. Veterinarians used dart guns to capture two wild pigs for humane dispatch through medicine injection. The operation was completed at 9pm.

     The spokesman said, "Many wild pigs are accustomed to wandering and gathering in the area, including a nearby residential estate and playground. Some wild pigs have even strayed into a school in the vicinity and looked for food from passers-by, posing potential threats to users of the Pak Fuk Road Playground such as children and nearby members of the public."

     The spokesman also noted that over the past three years (December 2018 to November 2021), the AFCD had conducted five capture and relocation operations as well as capture operations due to incidents at the site, and relocated 12 wild pigs to remote areas in the countryside. However, a large group of wild pigs continued to wander and gather at the area. Relocation alone could not effectively control the wild pig nuisance.

     The AFCD will continue to carry out wild pig capture operations and accord priority to sites with large numbers of wild pigs, areas with a history of injury cases or areas where wild pigs may pose risks to members of the public.

      The Government announced today (November 30) that in view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Japan, Portugal and Sweden will be specified as Group A specified places from 0.00am on December 3 to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.

      The Government announced on November 29 that as a preventive measure, the Government would specify places which have detected imported Omicron cases as Group A specified places. Noting that the detection of imported Omicron cases was confirmed in Japan, Portugal and Sweden, the Government will specify these places as Group A specified places from 0.00am on December 3. Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days are not allowed to enter Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised vaccination record. They have to undergo compulsory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel (DQH) for 21 days upon return to Hong Kong, with six tests to be conducted during quarantine, followed by compulsory testing in a community testing centre on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong.

      Additionally, the Government announced earlier that, to maintain our vigilance, inbound travellers from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which had been specified as Group A specified places, are subject to more stringent quarantine and testing requirements (i.e. Group A places with enhanced surveillance). Hong Kong residents arriving from these Group A places with enhanced surveillance are required to undergo compulsory quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre for the first seven days, and would then be transferred by designated transport to finish the remaining 14 days of compulsory quarantine at the DQH which they have reserved before coming to Hong Kong.
 
In order to facilitate the stringent quarantine arrangement above, from 0.00am on December 1, the documentary requirements for inbound travellers from Group A places with enhanced surveillance to board a flight for Hong Kong will be updated as follows:
 
(a) recognised vaccination record;
(b) negative result proof of a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid (PCR) test for COVID-19 with specimen collected within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft; and
(c) confirmation of room reservation at a DQH for no less than 14 nights starting from the 8th day of arrival at Hong Kong.
 
      Details on the relevant boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for respective specified places can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html.
 
      The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (November 30) laid charges against four men on board a Mainland vessel suspected of engaging in illegal fishing in Hong Kong waters to the south of Lamma Island.

     Marine Police officers intercepted a Mainland vessel suspected to be carrying out illegal fishing activities in the above-mentioned waters at about 2.30pm yesterday (November 29). Upon notification, AFCD officers conducted investigation and seized some fishing gear on board.

     Charges were laid against the four Mainland fishermen found on board the vessel. They were suspected to have contravened the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171). The case will be mentioned at Eastern Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 1).

     Only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters. Regardless of the type of fishing gear used, a non-local fishing vessel is not allowed to carry out fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. Any offender on conviction is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     An AFCD spokesman said, "The Government is committed to cracking down on illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will maintain close liaison with relevant law enforcement departments and step up patrols and stringently enforce the law."

  

     â€‹The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at four specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.

      Since there was an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection and/or influenza-like illness in four schools, and the symptoms of the diseases concerned are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence's sake, the relevant schools or their specified levels are covered in the compulsory testing notice. Persons who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
 
    Persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must go to any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions to undergo professional swab sampling in fulfilling the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen.

     If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above, the Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the post-super typhoon "extreme conditions" announcement by the Government is in force at any time during the period for undergoing the compulsory testing, the period for undergoing the compulsory testing will be further extended for one day.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection. The Government appeals to persons who are not yet vaccinated, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, to get vaccinated as soon as possible for better self-protection before the fifth wave strikes in Hong Kong.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are in Annex 1.

     Subsequent to the announcement by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on the updated quarantine arrangements of local COVID-19 cases with a mutant strain, persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the Department of Health (DH). They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf). For prudence's sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     In accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier, all household members of close contacts are required to undergo compulsory testing. Any person who had lived with a person placed under quarantine pursuant to section 22 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (person under quarantine) in the same residential unit on the date of commencement of quarantine or during the 14 days before that day, and who becomes aware of the quarantine of the person under quarantine when the relevant quarantine has not yet been completed, has to undergo testing within two days of him or her becoming aware that the person under quarantine has been placed under quarantine and report to the Government the result of the test by phone (6275 6901), fax (2530 5872) or email (ct@csb.gov.hk) within three days of undergoing the test. For prudence's sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     CTCs provide testing services for the public, including free service for persons subject to compulsory testing. Booking and walk-in services are available. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming two weeks to facilitate the public's planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (November 30), there were around 32 000 booking places available for tomorrow (December 1) at the CTCs, and around 92 per cent availability for booking places for the coming seven days. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.

     The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection truck in North District and Yuen Long District tomorrow for persons subject to compulsory testing for free, and the service period of the mobile specimen collection trucks at Kwai Tsing District and Sha Tin District will be extended to December 15 (Wednesday). Starting from December 6 (Monday), the mobile specimen collection station at Sha Tsui Road Playground will be relocated to the open space next to Tennis Court no.4 at Tsuen Wan Park. Outdoor mobile specimen collection stations will be closed if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force while all mobile specimen collection stations together with all CTCs will be closed when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher or the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force.

     Free testing service will be provided to persons subject to compulsory testing at CTCs and mobile specimen collection stations located at 35 places in various districts tomorrow. The testing capacity should be sufficient to meet the demand. Persons subject to compulsory testing and those with the "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the CHP reminding them to undergo testing as soon as possible may receive free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in Annex 2.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the CTCs (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en); 
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf), and the relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs; or
4. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the stool sample collected as per relevant guidelines.
 
     If a person subject to compulsory testing obtains a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner, proving that he or she is unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons, then he or she may choose to undergo testing via the following routes by providing a deep throat saliva sample:
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any of the 121 post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 designated general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
2. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority or during hospital stays, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.

     "If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs."

     Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

     Furthermore, persons subject to testing under the compulsory testing notices should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm. If persons subject to compulsory testing plan to conduct testing at any of the CTCs, they can check the centre's appointment status in advance. The hotlines of the CTCs are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     Relevant officers of different government departments are empowered to perform certain functions under the relevant Regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), including requesting individuals to provide information and assistance when necessary. Any person who fails to comply with the relevant request commits an offence and would be liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000). Collection and use of any personal data for conducting COVID-19 tests must meet the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Government departments or testing service providers which handle the relevant information may provide the data to the DH or other relevant departments for anti-epidemic purposes as necessary. The workflow does not involve the provision of any personal data to organisations or persons outside Hong Kong.

     The spokesman said, "The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons."